Temporal Dynamics of Visual Attention Allocation

Abstract

We often temporally prepare our attention for an upcoming event such as a starter pistol. In such cases, our attention should be properly allocated around the expected moment of the event to process relevant sensory input efficiently. In this study, we examined the dynamic changes of attention levels near the expected moment by measuring contrast sensitivity to a target that was temporally cued by a five-second countdown. We found that the overall attention level decreased rapidly after the expected moment, while it stayed relatively constant before it. Results were not consistent with the predictions of existing explanations of temporal attention such as the hazard rate or the stimulus-driven oscillations. A control experiment ruled out the possibility that the observed pattern was due to biased time perception. In a further experiment with a wider range of cue-stimulus-intervals, we observed that attention level increased until the last 500 ms of the interval range, and thereafter, started to decrease. Based on the performances of a generative computational model, we suggest that our results reflect the nature of temporal attention that takes into account the subjectively estimated hazard rate and the probability of relevant events occurring in the near future.

A dynamic normalization model of temporal attention

“…TVA has been adapted to model a constant level of expectation across time 80 , 81 , but not attention to specific time points. Second, our model distinguishes between voluntary and involuntary attention, a distinction that is supported by the spatial attention literature 35 , 82 , 83 and has been reported for temporal attention 78 , 84 – 86 . Third, in previous models 17 , 77 , the role of attention is to control the encoding of sensory signals into working memory.…”

A dynamic normalization model of temporal attention

“…TVA has been adapted to model a constant level of expectation across time 76,77 , but not attention to specific time points. Second, our model distinguishes between voluntary and involuntary attention, a distinction that is supported by the spatial attention literature 35,78,79 and has been reported for temporal attention 74,[80][81][82] . Third, in previous models 17,73 , the role of attention is to control the encoding of sensory signals into working memory.…”

The subsequent interruptive effects of pain on attention

“…Many studies have demonstrated that pain directs attention towards the location of its presentation (Van Damme et al, 2007Van Damme & Legrain, 2012). In addition to spatial location, temporal features are important aspects of attention (Coull & Nobre, 1998;Moon et al, 2019), but temporal attentional interruption by pain has been less well researched than its spatial counterpart. Van Ryckeghem et al (2012) found that even after the offset of a pain stimulus, pain interferes with performance on a subsequent task.…”